Improvement in safety-whiffletrees



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAIAH BYRD AND TURNER BYRD, JR., OF CALVIN TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY-WHIFFLETREES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,103, dated August 15, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ISAIAII BYRD and TUR- NER BYRD, J r., ofC-alvin township, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Satety-Vhiii-letrees; and we do declare that the following' is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,l and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being,l a part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is aplan view of our improvementas in ordinary use; and Fig. 2 is a similar view, showin g the traces simultaneously detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several igures.

This invention has for its object the construction of whiiietree trace-couplings in such a manner that the team may be instantly detached therefrom without the drivers being under the necessity of leaving his seat for that purpose; and it consists in the peculiar arrangement and method of operating the same, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents a double-tree of a wagon, and B B the whiflietrees pivoted thereto in the usualmanner. C are the whiftletree-irons, cast with a socket, to be sleeved over the ends of the whifi'letrees, with a projecting lug, a., on the front side of each. This lug,` is slotted vertically, to receive the snap or cockeye at the end ofthe trace, and further provided with a transverse slot, in which plays one of the rods D lying on the whifdetrees with. their ends so heut as to enter the transverse slots in the irons in the same direction. E is a plate 'pivoted on the double-tree, having the inner. ends of the two rods F pivoted to wrist-.pins on opposite sides of its pivots. The outer ends of these pivoted rods F are connected with the rods D, so that in the partial rotation of the plate E the ends of said rods D will be caused to close the vertical slot in the irons or he withdrawn therefrom. The plate E is rotated hyY'a lever, G, extending horizontally along the doubletree, and then up like a crank to the top of the dash-board. When the irons are in the position in Fig'. 1 the horizontal portion of the crank-lever G is sprung` over a stop, b, on the double-tree. In this position the snaps H of the traces engage with the ends ofthe rods D and secure the team to the vehicle.

To detach the team from the vehicle when in the act of running away, or otherwise, all that is required is to disengage the crank-lever from its stop and draw it back, which wlthdraws the ends of the rods D from the trace-snaps, which thus detaches the team, (if the neck-yoke have a ring slipped over the end ofthe pole or tongue, as it ought and usually does,) as shown in Fig. 2.

If desired, the lever G may be made without the crank, in which case it may he operated by a cord led under the box of the vehicle and up the inside of the dash, convenient to the drivers hand.

lVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure hy Letters Patent, is-

In connection with the double-tree A and whiffletrees B, provided with irons G, the arrangement of the locking-rods D, the connecting-rods F, and the plate E, provided with lever Gr, all constructed and operated as and for the purpose set forth.

ISAIAH BYRD. TURNER BYRD, J R. lllitnesses:

LANsoN T. LEE, HEsTER A. LEE. 

